South Dakota Public Broadcasting is announcing a 25% reduction in workforce following the end of federal funding.
Programs like In The Moment, South Dakota Focus and educational resources from SDPB’s education team are eliminated. Dakota Life will see reduced outputs.
SDPB leadership prioritized keeping open government access to the state legislature, and comprehensive coverage of SDHSAA athletic championships and fine arts events.
These cuts are the result of a rescission package to Congress that clawed back previously appropriated funds to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
All three of South Dakota’s Congressional delegation voted to pass the rescission package.
SDPB leadership said local programming is the most expensive to produce due to personnel, time and other financial resources to make it possible.
National content from PBS and NPR and local emergency alerts will still be delivered but are under “serious threat without urgent support.”
That's because the company decided to retain all TV and Radio transmitters to maintain "virtually universal access to its broadcast signals."
SDPB continues to work with Friends of SDPB and other community partners to identify emergency funding and long-term solutions to restore services and retain as many staff as possible.
SDPB officials said they are still hopeful Congress will include an appropriation for public broadcasting in the upcoming fiscal year 2026 budget bill.